Former Defence Minister Seeks to Dismiss Corruption and Money Laundering Case in Court
Former minister seeks to end case without presenting defence evidence
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula stood in the dock of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday, 13 August 2026, as her legal team moved to have the charges against her thrown out entirely. The former defence minister and former speaker of Parliament faces 12 counts of corruption and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she solicited R4.55 million in bribes from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between December 2016 and July 2019.
Her legal representative, Siyabulela Mapoma SC, told the court the defence would file a Section 174 application seeking her discharge. If granted, the application would end the case at the close of the state’s evidence, sparing Mapisa-Nqakula from presenting a defence or testifying under cross-examination. The trial was postponed to 20 August 2026 to allow the defence team to obtain full transcripts of the evidence presented so far.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption confirmed the procedural step. Spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the state has closed its case and will now await written arguments from the defence before drafting a reply. “The accused placed it on record in court that she will be filing for a discharge in the matter,” Mamothame said in a statement.
Should the discharge application fail, the trial will continue with the defence calling its own witnesses. Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case centres on allegations of cash requests tied to multimillion-rand SANDF tenders during her tenure as minister of defence and military veterans, a post she held from June 2012 until August 2021. More than 15 witnesses have already testified, among them family members, friends and associates of Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who is the state’s main witness and the person who filed the original complaint.
The criminal complaint that sparked the investigation came from United Democratic Movement leader and current Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa. Mapisa-Nqakula was arrested in April 2024 and stepped down from her parliamentary role shortly after.
What happens next hinges entirely on the Section 174 ruling. Upheld, it ends the proceedings without the defence calling a single witness or Mapisa-Nqakula taking the stand. Dismissed, the trial moves into its defence phase, with the full weight of testimony and evidence still to come.
Q&A
What legal motion did Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula file in court on 13 August 2026?
Her legal team filed a Section 174 application seeking her discharge, which would end the case at the close of the state's evidence if granted, sparing her from presenting a defence or testifying under cross-examination.
What are the allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula and who is the main witness?
She faces 12 counts of corruption and money laundering for allegedly soliciting R4.55 million in bribes from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between December 2016 and July 2019. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu is the state's main witness and filed the original complaint.
Who initiated the criminal complaint that led to this investigation?
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa filed the original complaint. Holomisa is now serving as Deputy Defence Minister.
What is the timeline for the next court proceedings?
The trial was postponed to 20 August 2026 to allow the defence team to obtain full transcripts of evidence presented so far. The outcome of the Section 174 discharge application will determine whether the case ends or proceeds to the defence phase.